The National tribune., 1887-02-24
JOS. w. KAY.
lie Declines the Nomination az Department Coua.
m&nder Of New York.
NEW YORK. Jan. o. 1857.

NEW YORK, Jan. o. 1887.
Comrades Edward Browne Chairman and Charles
w. COwtan, Secretary, Joint Conference Conn
manders and Delegates ofthe Posts ofthe Grand
Army OF the Republic, New York and Kings
Counties.
COMRADES: When, on tie sth inst. BY a vote co
hnttering and nearly unanimous, you selected my
name as the one to be presented to the Departments
Enctmpme to assemble al Albany ON the I'd
prOximo, as your candidate for Departments Com
mnnder of the Empire State. asked your indulge
ence in order that might have a chance to think
over and decide the matter. To most men such an
expression ON the part of his neighbOrs would DO
irresistible, and there would be no he5itoney in
accepting. To me your Kind consideration has
been q welcome recOmpense for four and q half
years of as hard earnest work as man ever did for
his fellow man, through good and evil report,
without, at any time. allowing selfish or sOrdid
motive or his own aggrandizement to control him,
and, in so far, it is refreshing to know where
stand But this is serious matter to consider.
with little thought of self; with for the ties
which find bind and control men outside their
eomradeship turning neither to the right nor left,
80; s - 90 sa w 10 party piant-
ing myself squarely upon the platform, Stand by
acOmrade even though the whole world ass.iI him -
L nave done my whole duty until am unfit physi-
eally and mentally, to add to my labOrs. i have
had much to contend with in the prosecution of the
work Tor veterans rights, and find myself unable
to cope with the unfinished business now ON hand
leading up to a just recognition of the rights re-
gaTdless OF party utilization, of the men who fought
the war much less to assume new and more ardu-
Gus duties.
Another influence. one which hes culmi-
mated within the past few days at Albany even
were physically capable, would deter and prob
ably control me at this time. Whether the uues-
ton at issue were the Presidency or the humble
position of porter i'm the public stores n United
states SenatOrShp or orderly at the Capitol of
the state, the principle involved is the same; he
who assaiis my cOmrade assails me- and 4 am
among those willing TO stand up and be counted
for my comrade under such circumstances even
should stand there alone. To this rule there
should be no exception; but, alas, even with all
the experience of the past and the education wa
have had TO draw from, men stand i'm ranks to-
day, both in public office and out to whom the OBJ
legation OF our Order is binding only when it suits
their purposes and at other times the full force OF
their power is thrown mercilessly against a COM
rade, and the cry once more goes out Anything
ment and assistance in our ranks, and we I'M
true to each other.
To be Department Commander of this State; 70
place her IN the van in peace she in furnish
ing men for the war. would be a proud achieve
ment; but IL requires a man at the helm now more
than ever before in our history who can unite go
hdify and combine the fraternity which means
something. by actions which demonstrate our right
TO ihe title of comrades In all that the word implies
Is position to which man should aspire
without ability and strength TO perform his trust
and he who enters upon its duties should do so,
not heedleSsiy recklesSly but realizing all that
requires of him, having deep sense of the obli-
CATION IL imposes and determination 10 be true to
himself, true TO the men whose representative he
Is the rank and file of the Grand Army Of tho
Republic
In my three years of service i'm the Army of the
Potomac private soldier and since then i'm nv
almost 20 years service in the ranks of the Grand
Army of the Republic, no duty has devolved on
me which sought to evade, nor have ever turned
my back upon either a hidden or an open foe; but,
for the reasons given while my heartfelt gratitude
goes out TO the conference of representative sol
diers of our section the men who were and are my
comrades, who have hOnored me with this ROni-
nation, most respectfully decline.
Yours, in f., G. and L.,
JOS. W. KAY,
Winchester Post, 1917, c. AR.